Tuesday June 30, 2020
Hello Chamber Members and Partners,

Here are the latest updates and resources for businesses and employees during this uncertain time.

Send us any questions or updates you may have, we are here to help provide information, connect the dots and assure those in the North Country that we will get through this together.

Onward and Be Well!
GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES INDIVIDUALS TRAVELING TO NEW YORK FROM EIGHT ADDITIONAL STATES WILL BE REQUIRED TO QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS
Today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that eight additional states meet the metrics to qualify for the travel advisory requiring individuals who have traveled to New York from those states, all of which have significant community spread, to quarantine for 14 days.

The newly-added states are California, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada and Tennessee.

The quarantine applies to any person arriving from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or a state with a 10% or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.  
 
The full updated list of states on the travel advisory is below:
 
  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Iowa
  • Idaho
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • Nevada
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah

"As an increasing number of states around the country fight significant community spread, New York is taking action to maintain the precarious safety of its phased, data-driven reopening,"  Governor Cuomo said.  "We've set metrics for community spread just as we've set metrics for everything the state does to fight COVID-19, and eight more states have reached the level of spread required to qualify for New York's travel advisory, meaning we will now require individuals traveling to New York from those states to quarantine for 14 days."
WEBINAR TOMORROW: Overview & The Impacts of New York's Travel Advisory
Please join the  North Country Chamber of Commerce  and our guest, Jaci Kelleher, of  Stafford Owens Law Firm  for a discussion on the overview and impacts of the tri-state travel advisory brought forward from the Governor's office last week.

Date:  Wednesday, July 1st
Time:  1:00PM

Key topics will include:
Responsibilities for Employers
Policy Implications 

We anticipate that this new travel advisory will have severe employer implications that you should be aware of, this webinar will look to give you the answers you need.

The law requires employers provide advance notice of the travel advisory, the possibility of quarantine, and the potential loss of paid sick leave benefits if an employee were to become quarantined. Employers should provide a general notice to all employees that this type of travel could result in loss of benefits.
*Webinar information will be sent to you by email after registration.
Religious Services Updates
A federal judge from the U.S. District Court blocked  the New York State's religious gathering capacity cap that was set at 25% under Phases II and III and 33% under Phase IV. 

Like restaurants and other businesses, churches, synogues and mosques are now allowed up to 50% capacity for their indoor services.

There is no longer any capacity limit for outdoor religious services. 

However, all participants must still follow social distancing protocols including staying 6 feet apart indoors.
DEC Announces Additional Campgrounds will Open July 1 to Existing Reservations
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that additional DEC campgrounds in the Adirondack and Catskill parks will open on July 1 to existing reservation holders for the 2020 season. To maintain social distancing and reduce the density of facilities and protect visitors, DEC is not accepting additional reservations or walk-in camping for the 2020 season at this time. Only existing reservations for all DEC campgrounds will be honored. Please visit DEC’s website for the  latest updates on DEC
Clarkson, North Country STEM Network offering Online Summer Robotics Camp
The North Country STEM Network through Clarkson University is partnering with the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice and UBTECH to offer Camp: ASPIRE, a safe, virtual robotics summer camp.

Camp: ASPIRE is a structured, week-long camp, delivered over 5 consecutive days (Monday-Friday). Each camp consists of daily, two hour live virtual instruction and offline self-paced activities aligned with the program’s curriculum and theme.

All classes are taught by certified teachers with specialized training.
Camp participants will receive and keep a comprehensive robotics kit featuring 300+ pieces, servo motors, sensors, and more.

Click Here for more information or to register.
To help the North Country reopen safely and meet the state and local mandates, T he North Country Chamber of Commerce has created a comprehensive list of resources to navigate state and local requirements. Check out the home page for details. There is also a series of webinars available for businesses to help educate and provide answers to common questions.
QUICK LINKS:

  • Forward NY: Official State Website for opening procedures and guidelines.

  • Looking for Supplies: If your business is looking for hard to find protective products, we have created a list of businesses offering hand sanitizer, gloves, wipes, masks and other items.


  • Now Hiring: Whether you are hiring or looking for work, we have a page dedicated to helping pair potential employees with employers.

  • Webinars: Did you miss one of our webinars, you can find them all here.

  • SCORE: Visit Scores Coronavirus page for webinars and useful articles for small businesses.
Have Questions? We're here to help!

North Country Chamber of Commerce
518.563.1000